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it_user313893 - PeerSpot reviewer
Operations Director at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Consultant
Its vMotion and HA features provide for an expandable and usable virtualization solution, but the web GUI is a bit clunky in version 6.

What is most valuable?

  • vMotion
  • High Availability
  • Storage vMotion
  • DRS

How has it helped my organization?

We have v5.5 in production, and v6 in test.

As we are resellers of VMware, we will be migrating customers to v6 in the future. This is to keep in line with new features and better performance in new versions

What needs improvement?

I would like to have the old vSphere client back as it is a great client to use. Sometimes the web GUI can be a bit clunky along with the newer client.

For how long have I used the solution?

I used it for two months in a test scenario.

Buyer's Guide
VMware vSphere
December 2024
Learn what your peers think about VMware vSphere. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2024.
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What was my experience with deployment of the solution?

It was fine.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

No issues encountered.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

No issues encountered.

How are customer service and support?

Technical support with VMware is very good. Once they have the logs from your system they will come back with a solution fast.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We used a previous version of VMware.

How was the initial setup?

We've only deployed v6 in a lab environment, but it was easy to deploy, and there was no major differences to v5.5

What about the implementation team?

We did it in-house.

What was our ROI?

None as of yet but hopefully we will see one.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

No other products were evaluated.

What other advice do I have?

I would advise you to implement it as I believe it's still the best in virtualization for expandability and usability.

Disclosure: PeerSpot contacted the reviewer to collect the review and to validate authenticity. The reviewer was referred by the vendor, but the review is not subject to editing or approval by the vendor. The reviewer's company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: We're partners and have a good relationship.
PeerSpot user
it_user320970 - PeerSpot reviewer
VP, Infrastructure Management and Security Services at a energy/utilities company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Vendor
With it, we’ve been able to consolidate and save millions of dollars for licenses, maintenance, and labor costs.

Valuable Features

We have the ability to run within our block environment with a private cloud capability, enabling us to realize our automation roadmap.

Improvements to My Organization

We’ve consolidated over $10 million for licenses, $12.2 million in maintenance, and $10.3 million in labor costs – it's a tremendous cost-saving.

Room for Improvement

I would like to see non-cloud native apps to be able to run on infrastructure and not be dependent on the underlying VMs for stability.

Stability Issues

It improves our stability.

Scalability Issues

We can dynamically scale within hours to meet our business demand, which use to take months.

Customer Service and Technical Support

We include a mission-critical support model, which gives us a very rapid response. So the response time is very good.

Initial Setup

Very complex, as there are a lot of moving parts to get into service. We simplify it for the end users but it is complex.

Pricing, Setup Cost and Licensing

I would say that the total cost of benefits are not just across virtualization but across general business categories. Don’t cut yourself short from using the solution to drive cost-benefits in multiple financial categories.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
VMware vSphere
December 2024
Learn what your peers think about VMware vSphere. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2024.
831,265 professionals have used our research since 2012.
it_user300507 - PeerSpot reviewer
Systems Engineering Associate Manager with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
It allows a more efficient way to increase/decrease the server inventory.

What is most valuable?

  • vCenter
  • ESXi Host
  • Configuring
  • Management
  • Patch
  • Maintenance

How has it helped my organization?

It has reduced the space, and power utilization, as well as allowing a much more efficient way to increase/decrease the server inventory.

What needs improvement?

I think VMware should make it easier to manage different components (ESXi Hosts, vCenter, etc.) through firewalls. Some organizations have to separate the components with firewalls for security purposes, and VMware does not act well when hosts are separated from vCenter by firewalls.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've used it for two years.

What was my experience with deployment of the solution?

Absolutely, numerous issues in particular HP ESXi VMware images that we utilized created a number of deployment issues. ESXi Hosts would lock up, network configs would malfunction and plenty more. We had issues deploying vCenter on windows 2012, and Windows 2012 r2, such as being unable to successfully integrate vCenter with Active Directory and plenty more.

How are customer service and technical support?

Technical support was difficult to obtain at time because of the limited number of resources allocated to our program.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

The previous solution were individual physical servers, which we replaced by utilizing VMware.

How was the initial setup?

It was straightforward, and physical servers used to host web applications.

What about the implementation team?

We implemented it in-house.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

No other options were looked at.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user1065 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Manager of Data Center at a integrator with 51-200 employees
Vendor
VMware Server is the best available virtualization solution with live migration, high availability, and dynamic resources

Valuable Features:

Pros on the VMware Server are- 1) Centralized management and configuration 2) Remote management and headless operation available 3) VMotion feature helps in real time movement of virtual machines from one server to the other 4) Automated scanning and patching of hosts 5) VSphere DRS for continuous monitoring resource pool utilization 6) Can be integrated with Windows Server Active Directory 7) Easy to use high availability and fail over clustering

Room for Improvement:

Few cons of VMware Server are 1) It is available for free so bug resolution and patch management takes time 2) Poor memory management 3) Requirement for supported SCSI and SATA controllers

Other Advice:

One of the cutting edge virtualization technologies offered by VMware works on platforms like Windows, Linux, and Solaris. It facilitates an application developer to test applications on virtual machines with ease of configuration and management. It provides visibility at each and every level of virtual infrastructure.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user4524 - PeerSpot reviewer
it_user4524Founder & Principal Architect at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Consultant

@kapilmalik1983, have you done some storage performance profiling to see what sort of load those 10 VMs require or currently use today? vCenter or the ESXi client can help you get the numbers as a group, but get them from within the VMs too. Perfmon would be the easiest way to do this. Set up disk statistic collection for each of those VMs on a one minute rotating period, cycle the log file nightly, and get a week's worth of collection stats. Analyze the output and see en mass what sort of performance levels you need (via MB/s and IOPs requirements). From there, we can help select a disk vendor that could fit the requirements. Other things apply, such as if you have a solid storage IP-based or fiber based network already in the environment, etc.

See all 5 comments
Myo Ko - PeerSpot reviewer
General Manager at Access Spectrum Company Limited
Real User
A highly stable and easy-to-implement solution that can be used for virtualization
Pros and Cons
  • "Virtualization, VDI and application publishing are the most valuable features of VMware vSphere."
  • "The solution’s pricing is too high and could be improved."

What is most valuable?

Virtualization, VDI and application publishing are the most valuable features of VMware vSphere.

What needs improvement?

The solution’s pricing is too high and could be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with VMware vSphere for more than five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

VMware vSphere is a very stable solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

VMware vSphere is a scalable solution.

How are customer service and support?

The solution's technical support team is good because if we open a priority ticket, they call within 30 minutes.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

The solution’s initial setup is easy.

What about the implementation team?

VMware vSphere can be installed in just two days for a normal project. However, it would take at least three months to implement everything, depending on the scope of the customer's requirements.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution’s licensing terms keep changing, which is too complex for our customers. If a user purchases a new license, it cannot be mixed with the existing perpetual license.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, I rate VMware vSphere an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
Administrator at Herzliya
Real User
User friendly, scalable, and good performance
Pros and Cons
  • "VMware vSphere is user-friendly and simple."
  • "The solution could improve by having more integration."

What is our primary use case?

We use VMware vSphere to deploy servers.

What is most valuable?

VMware vSphere is user-friendly and simple.

What needs improvement?

The solution could improve by having more integration.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using VMware vSphere for approximately 10 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable and has good performance.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

VMware vSphere is scalable.

I have approximately 1,000 users using this solution.

How are customer service and support?

The technology has been fine.

What about the implementation team?

We have a two-person technical team consisting of a technician and a security administrator.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution to others.

I rate VMware vSphere a ten out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Neeraj Mehra - PeerSpot reviewer
Manager of Solutions and Support at Esconet Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Reseller
Top 5
Good virtualization performance, reliable, scales well, and has responsive technical support
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable features are the virtualization and the performance on the virtualization platform."
  • "Both the price and the licensing fee are expensive, especially for our clients with a smaller workload."

What is our primary use case?

VMware vSphere is primarily used for server virtualization and automation.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features are the virtualization and the performance on the virtualization platform.

What needs improvement?

Both the price and the licensing fee are expensive, especially for our clients with a smaller workload.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with VMware vSphere for 14 years.

We have versions ranging from ESX 3.0 to the most recent one.

We have clients who use various deployment methods, including cloud, hybrid, and on-premises. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

VMware vSphere is a reliable solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is easy to scale.

We scale with VMware vSphere as well as vSAN.

We have customers with hundreds of servers running on vSphere.

How are customer service and support?

We have contacted technical support many times.

Technical support is responsive. I would rate them an eight or nine out of ten.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We are system integrators. We use a wide range of hardware and products.

On a daily basis, we work with servers, virtualization, VMware, and EMC storage boxes, as well as pure storage.

Our clients have tried Hyper-V as well and other solutions, but the consistency is better and there are fewer issues with the vSphere interface.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is not complex. 

It may be complex for the users, but not for the IT person; it is not a problem, and at all difficult

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The licensing and pricing need to be improved. 

The price is not an issue for our mid-sized or large-sized customers, but it can be expensive for our smaller customers.

What other advice do I have?

Virtualization fulfills the requirements very well.

I would rate VMware vSphere a 10 out of 10.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
reviewer1681332 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Operations Support at a energy/utilities company with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Stable, simple to scale, simple to operate, and has helpful support
Pros and Cons
  • "The virtualization this solution offer is very complete for the infrastructure."
  • "The support for the latest version could be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We use VMware vSphere on our main computer systems and we are using the Center Configuration Manager from VMware for the solution as well as vCenter for replication.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature is the tech manager from the utilization.

The virtualization this solution offers is very complete for the infrastructure. It meets our requirements and our needs.

It is very easy to operate.

What needs improvement?

The support for the latest version could be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with VMware vSphere for ten years.

We began with version 4.0 and are now working with the most recent version.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

VMware vSphere is a stable solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

VMware vSphere is a scalable product.

How are customer service and support?

Technical support from VMware is very comprehensive and helpful.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We use several solutions such as Microsoft Azure, Oracle, and we use VMware for our infrastructure.

We also have another solution for disaster recovery.

We used Microsoft Azure for testing with the model phone credit. It was for testing only.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

In my opinion, the price is not cheap, nor it is expensive. It's average.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Currently, we are starting on study for implementing the software design network, and I am evaluating options because I want to know the latest information about the products.

We are also evaluating NSX to implement it in the future.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate VMware vSphere a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: partner
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free VMware vSphere Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: December 2024
Buyer's Guide
Download our free VMware vSphere Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.